What defines our people: the phenomenon of the genius Mikhail Sholokhov was discussed at the National Centre RUSSIA
On May 24,
the National Centre RUSSIA hosted a meeting dedicated to the 120th anniversary
of the birth of Mikhail Sholokhov — one of the most outstanding Russian writers
of the 20th century. Experts discussed the life and creative path of the Nobel
Prize laureate in literature, as well as the influence of his works on Russian
culture.
In the
format of an open dialogue, participants turned to the key works of the writer:
the epic "And Quiet Flows the Don," revealing the tragedy of the
Cossacks during the revolution; the novel "Virgin Soil Upturned;" war
prose, including the novel "They Fought for Their Country;" and the
poignant story "The Fate of a Man."
The speakers analyzed "And Quiet Flows the Don" — a great cultural phenomenon that has left a mark on the consciousness of many generations. Special attention was given to film adaptations of Sholokhov’s books — over 20 feature films have been made based on his works.
Doctor of
Philology, leading research fellow at the Institute of World Literature of the
Russian Academy of Sciences Yuri Dvoryashin emphasized Sholokhov’s unique
ability to convey the spiritual qualities of the Russian people:
"Mikhail
Sholokhov is an epic writer; his own fate, organically connected with the fate
of the Russian people, is distinguished by scale and breadth. It seems to me
that a conversation about M.A. Sholokhov today is absolutely necessary,
especially for our modern youth, starting from school age. Familiarity with
Sholokhov’s works, understanding their artistic originality and the deep
essence of their imagery system allows readers of any age, but especially young
ones, to understand what true human life is. Especially — what the genuine life
of his people is, as well as that society which is both spiritually and physically
close, and serves as a source of native values for every person," noted
Yuri Dvoryashin.
Attention
to Sholokhov’s work is especially important today for defining one’s personal
stance in the modern world, said Sergei Sopelev, head of the civic-patriotic
section of the Moscow branch of the Russian Military-Historical Society,
historian, political scientist, and honourary doctor of the Academy of Labour
and Industrial History. He also emphasised that the nature of genius is
incomprehensible.
In his
childhood, Mikhail Sholokhov deeply immersed himself in the everyday life of
the Don Cossacks, adopted their moral values, and formed his own worldview.
This largely determined the strength of his artistic expression. Thus, experts
concluded that genius is born not only through education but through a
combination of intellectual and moral qualities.
"Sholokhov
tells us who we are. If you delve into the writer’s work, you will feel what
distinguishes our people — the phenomenon of the Russian national character.
Today, there is a lot of information, and young people are simply drowning in
it. Such fundamental things as Sholokhov’s work cannot be pushed into the
background; without this, it is impossible to move forward," said Sergei
Sopelev.
The
National Centre RUSSIA is becoming a platform for reflecting on the cultural
code of the nation. Literary events here are not just a tribute to the classics
but an opportunity to understand the continuous connection between generations
through their work.
